Enzyme compositions for use in coating composition containing starch



Patented Aug. 17, 1954 Sutton Redfern and James F. Lenney, Bronx, N. Y.,assignors to Standard Brands Incorporated, l\l ,ew Xork N. Y.,aicorporation ofDela- Serial No. 93,426

This invention relates to fillers for dry concentrates of thestarch-liquefying enzymes known as alpha amylases.

The alpha amylases are commonly usedin the William L. Craig. In suchcase, the diluent must fulfill the following three requirements:

1. It must be cheap;

2. It must be compatible with theclay, that is,

Cornstarch is a commonly used filler which fulfills the second and thirdrequirements, but is relatively expensive. Such common fillers as clays,diatomaceous earths, wood flour, walnut shell flour, and precipitatedsilica cannot be used with the alpha amylases, because they all adsorbthe enzyme and render it inactive.

We have found that white floated barytes and the hydrated aluminas, forinstance, A12O3.3H2O, are satisfactory fillers for these enzymecompositions in that they do not adsorb the enzyme appreciably orflocculateclay coating compositions and are cheaper than cornstarch.These materials must be regarded as unique because so many other finelydivided materials adsorb the enzyme. Even C. P. bariumsulfate adsorbs anappreciable quantity of the enzyme and, therefore, is not satisfactory.

To prepare the composition according to the Claims. (Cl. 106-214) Noman... Application May 14, 1949,

invention, the filler is added in finely divided condition to the dryenzyme preparation and is mixed thoroughly therewith. The fillers may beadded in varying amounts to obtain any desired paper industry for thepreparation of sizings, 5 dilution of the composition. They may be usedcoating compositions, and laminatin g adhesives alone or in admixturewith each other in any from starch. These enzymes are obtained fromproportions. They may also be used with cornvarious sources in the formof aqueous solustarch and with small amounts of sodium chlotions. Whilewe may use alpha amylases conride or sodium sulfate, that is, amountswhich taining some beta amylase, we prefer a starch- 1 will notfiocculate a clay coating composition. liquefying enzyme produced bybacterial fer- The invention is illustrated by the following mentationhaving a high alpha amylase content examples in which the enzyme usedwas a dry and substantially free from beta amylase such as alpha amylaseconcentrate of bacterial origin that described, for instance, in PatentNo. having a l qu f a y Edition, Journal 2,159,678 to Schultz, Atkin andFrey. The 15 of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, volenzyme isisolated in a dry state and is then ume 7, Pag s 3-6, May 5, 1935)content of mixed with a suitable filler which is desirable 30,000 pgramfor th purpose of reducing and standardizing Example 1 the strengthof the enzyme. When the enzyme Grams compositionis used for making plainstarch siz- 20 Enzyme 215 mg and laminating adhesives, the selection ofa Fine powdered sodium chloride 1on0 suitable filler is not toocritical. White floated barytes 87 The requirements of the filler arequite stringent, however, when the enzyme composition Example 2containing the same is used to prepare coating 2.5 Grams compositions byconversion of starch in the pres- Enzyme 2.15 ence of clay as described,for instance, in Pat- Fine powdered sodium chloride 15.00 ents Nos.2,360,828, 2,388,526, and 2,394,233 to Hydrated alumina 82.85

It is to be understood that the foregoing examples are given forpurposes of illustration only and that the invention is not to belimited except as indicated in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A dry composition comprising an alpha amylase and a filler, thefiller being composed largely of a compoundof the group consisting ofwhite floated barytes and hydrated alumina.

2. A dry composition comprising bacterial alpha amylase and a fillercomposed largely of whit floated barytes and hydrated alumina.

3. A dry composition comprising bacterial alpha amylase and a fillercomposed largely of white floated barytes.

4. A dry composition comprising bacterial alpha amylase and a fillercomposed largely of hydrated alumina.

5. In a process for preparing coating compositions involving theconversion of starch in an aqueous clay suspension by means of alphaamylase, the step which comprises adding the alpha amylase in admixturewith white floated barytes as a filler.

6. In a process for preparing coating compositions involving theconversion of starch in an aqueous clay suspension by means of alpha 3amylase, the step which comprises adding the alpha amylase in admixturewith hydrated alumina as a filler.

'7. A process as claimed in claim 5 wherein the alpha-amylas is ofbacterial origin.

8. A process as claimed in claim 6 wherein the alpha-amylase is ofbacterial origin.

9. A dry composition comprising bacterial alpha amylase and a filler,the filler being composed of a. small amount of sodium chloride and theremainder a compound of the group consisting of white floated barytesand hydrated alumina.

10. A dry composition comprising bacterial a1- pha amylase and a filler,the filler being composed of a small amount of sodium sulfateand 4 theremainder a compound of the group consisting of whit floated barytes andhydrated alumina.

References Cited the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 722,80? Burckett Mar. 17, 1903 1,100,176 Elger June 16, 19141,404,137 Neun Jan. 1'7, 1922 1,943,467 Bley 1 Jan. 16, 1934 OTHERREFERENCES Kitano. Chemical Abstracts, vol. 30; 6017. Citing J. Soc.Chem. Ind. Japan 39, Supp. Binding 163-4 (1936).

5. IN A PROCESS FOR PREPARING COATING COMPOSITIONS INVOLVING THECONVERSION OF STARCH IN AN AQUEOUS CLAY SUSPENSION BY MEANS OF ALPHAAMYLASE, THE STEP WHICH COMPRISES ADDING THE ALPHA AMYLASE IN ADMIXTUREWITH WHITE FLOATED BARYTES AS A FILLER.